Rice's Aquino Wins College HR Derby

5 Jul 2013

Rice University’s Michael Aquino won the 2013 TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha (Neb.) in front of a sold out crowd of 23,731 people. The final round came down to Aquino and Georgia Tech freshman Matt Gonzalez.

Gonzalez stepped to the plate first and sent five balls out of the park. Aquino knocked out three early, but lost his groove in the middle of his at-bat. With only one out remaining, the soon-to-be senior needed one to tie. Aquino rose to the occasion by hitting the next two pitches out, causing the eliminated players to mob him at home plate. The eight participants combined to hit 61 home runs.

“On behalf of more than six thousand TD Ameritrade associates nationwide, we congratulate Michael Aquino on an entertaining victory,” said Katrina Becker, managing director, communications and public affairs for TD Ameritrade. “This was an exciting night for college baseball, family and Omaha, and we were thrilled to be a part of it.”

Dave Winfield, who was the 1973 Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series and a 2001 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, served as the official ambassador for the event.

The event aired nationally on ESPN on July 4. (Photo courtesy of Green Room Studios.